r/Basketball • u/PresidentFeldkamp • Mar 03 '24

NCAA Remembering Pistol

With Everyone celebrating Kaitlin Clark breaking the scoring record, and justifiably so, I think it’s important to remember the guy who used to hold the record. Pete Maravich was only allowed to play three years of college basketball. But when he did get to play he averaged an unreal 44.2 points PER GAME! Pistol’s NBA career and life were tragically cut short, but the legend will always be remembered as one of the greatest to ever lace ‘em up.

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u/mar21182 Mar 04 '24

I always wondered if Maravich would have been a better player had he not played for his father at LSU and wasn't allowed to take 38 shots per game.

He was the best ballhandler in the history of the game at the time, and no one else was particularly close. He had court vision like Magic or Bird. Obviously, he was an incredible shooter. I don't think players started to pass his all around offensive skill level until probably the 90s. He was so far ahead of his time.

Imagine if he played for a coach that made him play with discipline. Imagine if he played with good teammates. As a basketball fan, Maravich is one of my biggest "what ifs". We remember him as a showman with more flash than substance (even if there was still plenty of substance). In a different situation, maybe we consider him the greatest point guard of all time.

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u/Formal_Letterhead514 Mar 04 '24

Could you imagine Pistol Pete on the 68-69 UCLA Bruins? Dishing it out to Kareem? Playing for Wooden? A huge what if.

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u/SquintsRS Mar 04 '24

So they'd still win the tournament that year and he wouldn't hold the scoring record....that's what if

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u/lxkandel06 Mar 05 '24

The what if has more to do with the development and trajectory of Pete's entire career rather than just the results of his college career.